Netbook and GPS

**Infidel** · 01-22-2010, 17:15

Hey-

I picked up an ASUS netbook and am looking at getting a USB GPS receiver and am wondering if anyone has any expeirance in using any topo map software on the trail?

**CJ Chet** · 01-22-2010, 17:54

Garmin has some real good map products. Here's a link.

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/maps/onthetrailmaps

**Jeffb_79** · 01-22-2010, 18:05

Originally Posted by Infidel

Hey-

I picked up an ASUS netbook and am looking at getting a USB GPS receiver and am wondering if anyone has any expeirance in using any topo map software on the trail?

If you're using it on your computer, I'd go with something other than garmin.... they get pretty pricey.
Have you read around on expeditionportal.com at all? They've got some great revues in their gps section.
Most people love the Ozi Explorer software ( I believe it's free, haven't looked at it in awhile )
Link to OE page:
http://www.oziexplorer.com/

and a few threads that go into detail about different netbook setups:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ad.php?t=20122
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ad.php?t=35442
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ad.php?t=28239

**korisu56** · 01-22-2010, 19:31

Definitely not free. This may be a better opportunity for me rather than a hand held GPS. I never even thought about this.

**Jeffb_79** · 01-22-2010, 19:35

Originally Posted by korisu56

Definitely not free. This may be a better opportunity for me rather than a hand held GPS. I never even thought about this.

You'd still have to buy a gps receiver to run with the laptop, and more than likely an external antenna.

**korisu56** · 01-22-2010, 19:48

But I also could use it for in-trip reports, school work (if I have any), picture storage, trip planning, etc. Not to mention I could find a method of attaching it to the rollcage. It has a solid state HD, so I won't have to worry about the bumps. Just a thought

**Infidel** · 01-22-2010, 21:41

Amazon has USB GPS dongles for $40.00.

My thought was that I can add my Blackberry as a tether modem and I am golden to do pretty much anything I need to from the trail (planning, uploaing pics etc) and the ASUS is pretty much shock proof and pretty cheap.

I updated it to 2gb of RAM and uploaded an Nlited version of XP (trimmed down to 200mb) so the think goes from power on to desktop ready to go in about 15 seconds.